Predestination is a debated issue both in and outside of the church. It deals with God and his salvation. Those people who support the idea of predestination believe that God predestines or chooses those who will be saved and those who will not be saved. Most fundamental Baptists oppose predestination and argue that instead God in his foreknowledge knows who will and will not be saved. The Bible is not very clear on this issue and there are verses that support and oppose predestination. Some verses seem to aid those who are for it, but could just be evidence of some form of election. Predestination has been debated for centuries and is still not a settled issue.

Those who believe in predestination can be connected with such views as Cynicism or Gnosticism, which teaches that man is not held responsible for his sins because he is naturally flawed. They teach that righteousness results in rewards in Heaven. Predestination though, is most commonly associated with Calvinism. Calvinist believe in double predestination. They use several bible verses to support their idea. Such verses as Romans 9:15-16 which says; For He sayeth to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.” So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy. They use these verses in the aspect that God chooses certain people to save from Hell. Verse sixteen seems to imply that it is not up to the person, he has no choice or will (So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth.) Another verse used is Romans 9:21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? This verse is taken as God being the potter and he has power over everyone making them good or making them bad.
Fundamental Christians will argue the idea predestination very strongly. They believe that God gives every man a free will, a choice whether to do wrong or to follow after him. God is all knowing, and therefore he knows who will and will not choose him, He does not decide for them.

Deuteronomy 30:19 states; I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: Therefore choose, that both thou and thy seed may live. This verse is clearly stating a choice between good and evil. God is asking people to choose life, he is not forcing them into it, neither is he forcing death upon them. God even brings witnesses, heaven and earth, to prove that he is giving man free will. In Joshua 24:15 it says,“choose ye this day whom ye will serve.” Showing again man’s choice in his destiny. The familiar verse John 3:16 tells us that God loves the world. If God truly loves the world why would he destine some of it to a torturous hell for eternity? God provided a heaven for those who will choose him. Mark 16:16 states, He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. Throughout God’s word are many examples and proofs that man is the one in charge of his own eternity.
God is not a dictator, he would not send a person directly to hell without redemption. Men who argue in favor of predestination only want to make excuses for their sins. If man could prove that he had no choice and that it was already determined for him whether he would go to heaven or hell, than he would have no reason not to sin. If God determined before hand that someone was not going be saved then why should that man follow God? He is going to hell anyway, why not live life the way he wants to live it? That is exactly why men seek to prove that they have no choice in the matter. All history is filled with men such as Charles Darwin, John Calvin and others who have tried to excuse sin by making up beliefs and “scientific facts”, trying to show that they are not responsible for their eternity. In the bible these men are called scorners and mockers. Paul called them fools for their unbelief. “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord, shall be saved”, that is the truth. Whosoever means anyone can choose to call on the Lord. Therefore predestination is a wrong philosophy with no biblical standings. The verses used to support predestination are taken out of context. God loves all people and he desires that all men will repent of their sins and be saved. He does not predestine any man’s future, and it is a sin to believe that he does and to blame God for man’s sins.

Romans 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Ephesians 1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
Ephesians 1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

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OLD TESTAMENT

Ref ……………. Type...TO………… From…………Reason
Genesis 6:              ?        Noah            God                   Build Ark
Genesis 11:            ?        Abram        God                   Leave Family
Genesis 15:1         V        Abram         The Lord            ?
Genesis 20:3       D         Abimelech  God                  Not to take Sari as wife
Genesis 22:1-11  ?         Abraham     Angel               Don’t kill Isaac
Genesis 24            ?         Balaam        Spirit of
Genesis 28:12      D         Jacob            God                  Jacob’s Ladder
Genesis 31:10       D         Jacob            Angel              Dividing the herd
Genesis 37:5         D        Joseph             ?                     Family in subjection to him
Genesis 40:5         D        Btlr/Baker      ?                    For Joseph to interpret
Genesis 41:7          D        Pharoah          ?                    For Joseph to interpret
Genesis 45:2          V        Israel           God                  Go to Egypt
Judges 7:13         D        Gideon             ?                    Hear enemy feared him
1 Samuel 3:1             V        Samuel       The Lord       Speak to Eli
1 Samuel 28:6        ?        Saul               God                    ?
2 Samuel 7:4-17   V        Nathan        The Lord       Speak to David
1 Kings 3:5                 D       Solomon     Lord                Solomon’s reign
1 Chron 17:3              V       Nathan        The Lord       Speak to David
Isaiah 1:1                    V       Isaiah        The Lord Future Events
Isaiah 21:2 V Isaiah       The Lord Future Events
Isaiah 28:7 V Seers in Israel False visions
Ezekiel                       V       Ezekiel         The Lord
Daniel 1:17 VD Daniel God Understanding
Daniel 2:3                 D        Nebucan.   God                   Prophetic
Daniel 2:28 D Daniel God Understanding
Daniel 4:5                 D        Nebucan.    God                  Prophetic
Daniel 7:1                  D        Daniel          God                  Prophetic

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It’s FUN to study the BIBLE, the WORD OF GOD. There are several ways to do this. The study of a book, a study of a doctrine, a study of a subject, and a study of a word/words. This is a study of words. The Apostle Paul, in his epistles used the words BUT NOW…

In his letter to the Romans as he wrote about our position with the Lord in regards to the LAW he wrote BUT NOW…
Romans 3:21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
Romans 6:22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
Romans 7:6 But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and …
Romans 15:23 But now having no more place in these parts, and having a great desire these many years to come unto you;
Romans 15:25 But now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints.
In his closing comments to the Romans he reminded them of the mysteries that had been kept secret …
Romans 16:26 But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:
To the weak church at Corinth he had to remind them of his teachings while he was with them, who to keep company with, the relationship with husband and wife.
1 Corinthians 5:11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolator, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.
1 Corinthians 7:14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.
That they were members of the body of Christ.
1 Corinthians 12:18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.
1 Corinthians 12:20 But now are they many members, yet but one body.
How Christ was risen as would all believers.
1 Corinthians 15:20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that slept.
In his second letter he reminds them to be diligent.
2 Corinthians 8:22 And we have sent with them our brother, whom we have oftentimes proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, upon the great confidence which I have in you.
2 Corinthians 12:6 For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above…

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BUT NOW as we study and learn the word of God we need to be sharing it with our unsaved friends before its too late.

There are three Chapters in the Bible that if you master them Life will be easier and you will better understand the rest of the Bible.

Genesis 3 – The Fall of Man

Romans 3 – The Remedy for Man

Ephesians 3 – The Application

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Read Matthew 26:52-75

Matthew 26:72 And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man.
Matthew 26:74 Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew.

OATH

There are two definitions for the word OATH:
-a solemn promise, often invoking a divine witness, regarding one’s future action or behavior.
-a profane or offensive expression used to express anger or other strong emotions.

Matthew 5:33  Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths:
Matthew 14:7  Whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatsoever she would ask.
Matthew 14:9  And the king was sorry: nevertheless for the oath‘s sake, and them which sat with him at meat, he commanded it to be given her.
Matthew 26:72  And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man.
Mark 6:26  And the king was exceeding sorry; yet for his oath‘s sake, and for their sakes which sat with him, he would not reject her.
Luke 1:73  The oath which he sware to our father Abraham,
Acts 2:30  Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne;
Acts 23:21  But do not thou yield unto them: for there lie in wait for him of them more than forty men, which have bound themselves with an oath, that they will neither eat nor drink till they have killed him: and now are they ready, looking for a promise from thee.
Hebrews 6:16-17  For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife. Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath:
Hebrews 7:20-21 And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest:(For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever …
Hebrews 7:28  For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.
James 5:12  But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.

In the text above it would appear to take an oath was to promise something.

As a believer, we should be very careful when we make an OATH.

And according to the Apostle Paul a believer should defiantly avoid filthy communication, bad language.

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